My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 1991 – (The Year of my Birth)

  A new year is upon us, and it’s time to look forward … but once in a while it’s also nice to look back. For today, I’m looking back over thirty years to 1991, a very nice year for movies, and even more importantly … it was the year of my birth. 

Understandably, I didn’t watch a single movie in the theater that year, but regardless ... I've grown-up with, connected with, and have enjoyed several films from this year ... many of which have resonated with me as personal favorites over the decades. There were also a number of great movies to discover later in my adult years. So, I thought it would be fun to stop and rank which movies from the year of my birth mean the most to me. 

This was not an easy list to assemble, as there were so many great movies from this year like “JFK” ... so many uniquely different films like the Science Fiction picture “Naked Lunch” ... and so many childhood favorites of mine like “The Adams Family” and “Ernest Scared Stupid” … but I feel confident I’ve been able to round things down to the ten most important movies to me from 1991. Again, this isn’t a list of the objective best or most significant movies to come out, just the ones that mean the most to me.

 

#10 “Thelma & Louise” 

When two women take a weekend vacation to escape their boring lives, one incident at a bar puts them on the opposite side of the law, gradually becoming the two most wanted criminals in several states, and they find themselves on the run across the country … culminating in an iconic ending, in which the two keep on driving, even when there’s no road left. Director Ridley Scott has had a number of classics ranging from “Alien” to “Gladiator”, and he kicked off the 90’s with a unique road trip experience, which was nominated for Best Picture, and has resonated with fans as a classic in its own right. 

The film blends a buddy comedy formula, with a cross-country adventure, as well as a crime drama, and gives the film a personality all its own. What keeps it squarely in the realms of favorable are the performances from Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as our two leading ladies. Their chemistry is on point, and they provide the energy to sustain the film’s momentum to its memorable finale.  

 

#9 “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West” 

This is perhaps the only movie on my list to make it for purely nostalgic reasons. I absolutely adore this film, as it rejuvenates a young kindred spirit within me and takes me back to that time of my childhood that was wholesome and carefree. It didn’t accomplish anything significant in the realms of animated movies, nor is it as thematically rich as its 1986 predecessor … but it’s such a joy to look back on. There’s just this wonderful charm that comes from the characters, the music, the animation, and the Wild West setting that makes this movie feel so cheerful and gives it a personality all its own. 

It also features some really good voice actors, including the always fantastic John Cleese as the villain, and the late great Jimmy Stewart as the old, down and out cowboy who just wants one last chance to be a hero. It’s hard to do this film justice, and it honestly isn't something I’d recommend to people who haven’t seen it, because it’s really just something special you had to have grown up with.

 

#8 “Backdraft” 

In Chicago, a group of firefighters are on the trail of a serial arsonist, and battles waves of raging fires in the process. Throughout the 90’s, there was a never-ending selection of marketable disaster pictures, and it’s refreshing to look back on one of the first as a grounded and thrilling experience, without going as overboard as it’s decade successors. The effects were a marvel for its time, and the dramatic ties behind the characters give the action its backbone. 

For me, this marked the movie experience that ingrained director Ron Howards name into my memory, and while not his absolute best film, it’s still the film that comes to mind first when I think of the director.

 

#7 “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” 

I’ve loved comedies my whole life, and two of the most important names to me from the spoof genera are Writer and Director David Zucker and star Leslie Nielson, who’ve both collaborated on some of my all-time favorite comedies. Before I ever saw their 1980 classic “Airplane!”, or even the original 1988 classic “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad”, it was through this 1991 sequel “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” that I was introduced to both Leslie Nielson and David Zucker for my first time … and paved the way for me to discover some of my favorite comedies. 

I’d say I’m a little fonder of what this sequel started for me then it is a great comedy, but it’s still very funny all these years later, with memorable gags and it’s one of the better comedy sequels I’ve seen. Also released in 1999 was the Jim Abrahams directed spoof “Hot Shots!”, which was another good one, and arguably better, but it’s the sequel “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” that means more to me and delivers the laughs.    

 

#6 “The Rocketeer” 

Upon the discovery of an innovative new Jetpack, it leads a young man on an adventure to protect the people he loves from villains secretly hiding in his small hometown. With all the big budget superhero movies that are constantly released from Hollywood, it’s such a breath of fresh air to just have an old-fashioned action adventure like this. "The Rocketeer" is a nice little tribute to the old film serials of the 1930’s and 40’s, which gives it a flavor all its own, and as such, it’s stuck with me as one of my favorite comic-book movies of the 90’s. 

The characters are all terrific, with Timothy Dalton as a charismatic villain, and Jennifer Connelly as the charming (and crazy beautiful) love interest. The film functions as a relatively high-spirited adventure for the family and delivers the excitement without going too far. It’s no “Dark Knight” by any means, but it has so many simple charms, exciting action scenes, practical stunts and a genuine self-awareness that it’s not trying to be the next big superhero flick, just a very simple good time. 

 

#5 “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” 

As far back as I can remember, 1991’s “Prince of Thieves” marked one of the very first PG-13 movies I ever saw in my lifetime, and one of my early introductions to swashbuckling adventure cinema. Objectively, I can’t make a compelling argument that this really is one of the great adventure movies, let alone one of the best Robin Hood stories, but it’s always been my special Robin Hood adventure, and the one I most fondly look back on. While Kevin Costner is not the best Robin Hood portrayal … not even close … he’s still surrounded by my favorite actors in these respected roles. Morgan Freeman is excellent as Robins best friend Azeem, and of course, it’s Alan Rickman who steals the whole show as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. 

Aside from that, the film boasts one of my all-time favorite adventure scores, along with a great Oscar nominated song and features blazing action sequences. Still to this day, I find “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” a fun experience, as well as a decade staple, a favorable adventure movie, and it’s what always seems to come to my mind first when I think Robin Hood ... maybe not the objective best … but my personal favorite Robin Hood all the same.

 

#4 “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” 

Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are back, and this time their breaking down the figurative “Berlin Wall” in space, in an effort to make peace with their long-standing alien rivels … the Klingons! For Captain Kirk himself, it’s a personal struggle to look past his own prejudice of a race responsible for killing his son, and to see if peace is an option for their future. “Star Trek” in general is one of my all-time favorite long running franchises, and of the original six classics, it’s the final installment that I love the most. 

It just gets everything right, boasting an intriguing, character-driven mystery plot with lots of incite on themes of prejudice, forgiveness, betrayal, nationalism and the fear of an unknown future. The result is a genuinely thrilling and even inspiring motion picture that’s nothing short of a masterpiece.

 

#3 “The Silence of the Lambs” 

Here it is ... the rare horror movie classic that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Agent Clarice Starling is out looking for serial killer and kidnapper Buffalo Bill, but in order to find and understand her target, she has to go through a series of interviews with convicted psychopath Hannibal Lecter, resulting in an intense battle of the minds. Being truthful, “The Silence of the Lambs” has never resonated with me as a personal favorite movie, but I also know a great movie when I see one, and this film has undeniably earned its status as a decade classic. 

Beyond its intensely realistic tone, the highlight is the performances from the two leads. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Forster are dynamite on screen and are what keep the film edged in everyone’s memory. Even if you’re not a horror movie fan, this movie is well worth watching if you haven't. It's an above average thriller that walks a tightrope presentation of psychological study, and all-out stomach-turning nightmare. It’s a classic film from the 90’s and has a secure place as a staple of the horror genre.

 

#2 Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” 

Back when I was a kid, I was indifferent to Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”, and didn’t regard it with love the same way I did with their other classics. Looking back as an adult, I think “Beauty and the Beast” is about as perfect as animated Disney movies get. Honestly, it didn’t receive its coveted Oscar nomination for best picture simply for its detailed animation, or its wonderful Oscar winning songs, but for being a genuinely beautiful love story, layered with meaningful subtext. It’s a classic story about discovering the ugliness of one's life, and finding true beauty hidden deep within. 

Of how beauty was able to unlock the heart of a monster, while still making this story feel fresh and original at the same time. Adapting timeless tales to the big screen has always been the legacy of film, and I feel Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” remains a very important part of that legacy. It proves that a great movie can come from anywhere, from any medium, and that an animated Disney movie can go beyond just a fun experience … it can be a truly great film in its own right.

 

As a reminder, this was not an easy list for me to construct, so before moving on to my number one favorite movie of 1991, here are some quick Honorable Mentions that I just couldn’t fit on my list …

“Hook”

“The People Under the Stairs”

“Oscar”

“Hot Shots!”

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze”

 

#1 “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” 

Arnold Schwarzenegger returned as a cyborg warrior from the future, and this time he’s protecting the young savior of the human race from one of the greatest villains ever, the liquid metal T-1000. Along the journey, it becomes an ethical debate of how to change the future for the better, and that we have “no fate, but what we make for ourselves”. In general, I love Science Fiction, I love action, and the 1991 sequel “T2” remains the golden model for combining the two. Honestly, to say “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is my favorite movie of 1991 would be an understatement … personally, it’s one of my all-time favorite movies. 

It’s a film that simply gets better with age and hardly feels dated. Even after thirty years, it’s simply the gift that keeps on giving. It’s also an important example of how a highly entertaining merger of both Sci-Fi and action can also have substance and emotional strength at its center, which goes hand in hand with all its spectacle. The characters have depth, the morals have substance, the effects are still eye-popping, the action riveting, and even if you’re not a fan of the genera, I’d still say this movie is worth watching. If you’re either a fan of action or Science Fiction, then “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is mandatory viewing, as it still stands as one of the greatest … and personal favorite of what both genera’s have to offer. 

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love! 

 

Escape from New York (1981) (Movie Review)

 

  When it comes to movies with a status of “cult classic”, there’s a reassurance that it’ll survive complete obscurity over the growing years. With that said, even the biggest cult classics can be overlooked by general audiences, which entices me to shine a spotlight on them when I can. John Carpenter's 1981 Sci-Fi thriller “Escape from New York” is one such film that has a secure place in the cult classic hall of fame but isn’t often discussed by casual viewers today. So, let’s take a look back and see if this early 1980’s Sci-Fi picture is worth preserving or dismissing. Here’s the set-up … in the latter half of the decade, crime has increased so drastically, that regular prisons can no longer contain all the convicted felons across the United States. To compensate, the island of Manhattan is converted into a giant maximum-security prison, to hold the nation’s most dangerous and lethal criminals.

  Our story begins in the futuristic setting of 1997, as we see that one such culprit named Snake Plissken has been apprehended and is about to be transferred to New York. Before that can happen, Air Force One is suddenly taken over by a lone terrorist, forcing the President to eject in a pod, and wouldn’t you know … it has the misfortune of crash landing in Manhattan, right in the middle of crime central. With the ultimate bargaining chip at their disposal, and a briefcase containing top-secret information on Nuclear Fusion, the inmate’s ringleader simply called “The Duke” begins an uprising. With this turn of events, a deal is made between the Police Commissioner and Snake Plissken … twenty-four hours to rescue the President, and if successful, he’ll receive a full Parden … fail, and a microscopic implant will kill him. Thus, it’s a race against time for Snake to infiltrate the crime inhabited island and retrieve the President before his literal deadline.

  While everything in this movie strains plausibility, the overall premise and set-up is ingenious. I love the concept of a giant location like New York being reduced to a land of anarchy, which, for a lone hero on a rescue mission, opens the door for all kinds of exciting set-pieces and encounters with interesting inhabitance. Writer and Director John Carpenter first came up with the idea back in the mid-70’s, following the Watergate Scandal of 1972. He initially had a difficult time getting a studio to back his grim concept of a popular American city being turned upside down but following after his success with the 1978 movie “Halloween”, he finally received the influence to begin production. Nick Castle, who famously portrayed Michael Myers in “Halloween”, co-wrote the script with Carpenter, and helped balance out the bleaker aspects of the film.    

  Before I get lost in the details, I need to address our main players, beginning with Kurt Russell, who leads the charge as Snake Plissken. 

I’ll be addressing some reservations with the film as I go along with this review … but Kurt Russell as Snake is not one of them. He absolutely carries this film as a stoic anti-hero with a cool eye-patch. Russell had previously worked with director John Carpenter on a TV production of “Elvis”, in which he portrayed the King himself, and would continue to star in many of his film’s afterwords. “Escape from New York” marked new territory for the talent, and while his performance is reminiscent of the stoic Western characters played by Clint Eastwood, he doesn’t come off like a one-note imitation. He brings his own unique “cool factor” to the table, and hints at layers beneath his tough-guy persona, like he’s a guy forced to fight for a nation he no longer believes in. Truthfully, if I could craft my own figurative “Rock Monument” of my four favorite movie characters who wear eye-patches, I’d have Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken front in center, and at his side John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn, then Akihiko Hirata’s Dr. Serizawa and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury putting a bow on the picture. 

  Along the way, we meet a number of Manhattan inmates, including a woman named Maggie, who aids in the climactic rescue. 

She was portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau, who was a regular talent in Carpenter's films … although, I’ll remember her best as the voice of Cat-Woman from “Batman: The Animated Series”. The late Donald Pleasence, who was also a regular talent in John Carpenters movies, portrayed the President, and while he was always a welcome screen presence, he doesn’t get a moment to shine like he did in Carpenters previous 1978 classic “Halloween”. The late Isaac Hayes, famous for composing the theme from “Shaft”, and the song “Soul Man”, is also great as the tyrannical Duke, but he too feels underutilized, and I wish he could have gotten more screen-time. Oscar winning Actor Ernest Borgnine at least provides some levity as “Cabbie”, both with his charm, and just the thought of a crime ridden New York still using cab drivers is very amusing.   

  While the cast is solid, and the premise intriguing, I will admit that I like the ideas and potential, more than what the film actually delivers. Truthfully, I felt we could have had even more unique characters and exciting encounters, but the film only hints at what else can be on the island. Also, with all the potential for some white knuckled action, the film leans more on quiet suspense, and sneaking about, which is a fine direction to go … but still, with a premise like this, I feel like I need something to pop. There’s a gladiator style match in a boxing ring that’s kind of average, and even the climactic chase across the bridge to escape felt underwhelming. The final showdown between Snake and the Duke is especially short, but I do like that the villains demise came from the captive President. 

  All that being said, what the film lacks in conventional thrills, it compensates with atmosphere and lots of personality. The dystopian setting of New York absolutely feels like a character in-of itself, and there’s memorable imagery on display. Whenever I mentally think of Anarchy in the street, this movies depiction of gangs overrunning Broadway instantly comes to mind. 

Also, the Dukes car has chandeliers decorated on the outside ... that’s outstanding and is one of those touches that gives the film character. Both the production design and effects are dated by today’s standards, but quite impressive for the time, and the film looks fantastic overall. With the exception of a single scene on Liberty Island, the majority of the movie was shot in St. Louis Missouri, but I still feel like I’m submersed in a larger city when I view it. The film was lensed by the legendary Dean Cundey, who had an eye for making a setting come to life, and would be the Cinematographer of many classics, including “Jurassic Park”, “Back to the Future”, and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.   

  Naturally, the music was composed once again by director John Carpenter himself, along with Alan Howarth. Some of Carpenter’s music overlaps in my mind, and many of his cues for “Escape from New York” remind me of his score for “Christine”, which came out two years later. 

Also, while John Carpenter knew he was directing a Science Fiction picture with “Escape from New York”, he went into the project with a mind-set like he was doing a Western … with a rogue hero entering a town over-run by outlaws, and there’s little details sprinkled through the film. I feel the casting of Lee Van Cleef as the Police Commissioner is no coincidence, as he’s famous for his Spaghetti Western roles like Angel Eyes in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Also, when our anti-hero Snake comes across various individuals, we discover he had a reputation, and everyone he greets assumed he was dead. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a tribute to John Wayne's character Jacob McCandless from the 1971 movie “Big Jake”, who had a similar reputation.

  In the end, “Escape from New York” has never been one of my personal favorites, and I find the viewing experience okay at best. That being said, I do feel the movie is worth preserving as a 1980’s genera classic and is enjoyable to look back on once in a while. It has a similar feel to many Sci-Fi pictures that characterized the decade, like “Highlander” and “Robocop”, so it’s hard for me not to enjoy it on some level. I wish the setting could have been explored in greater detail, and a premise this exciting could have benefited from stronger action sequences. All that said, I’d say this movie is required viewing for any fans of either John Carpenter or Kurt Russell, as this really is a bright spot in both their filmography’s. If you’re a fan of 80’s Sci-Fi, then maybe give it a chance … you might just discover something worth escaping into.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1981 Sci-Fi picture “Escape From New York” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!